Torque transmitter



June 17, 1930. KARNASCH I 1,764,266

TORQUE TRANSMITTER Filed 001:. 10, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet l FIE L i L June 17, 1930.

TORQUE TRANSMITTER Filed Oct. 10, 1927 M. KARNASCH 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Edam? an A TTOR NE YS L. M. KARNASCH TOR UE TRANSMITTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I INVENTOH Leopo/a M. Karnasch Patented June 17, 1930 LEOPOLD M. KARNASCH, OF SAN FRANCISCQ CALIFORNIA TORQUE TRANSMITTER' Application filed October 10, 1927. Serial No. 225,385.

My invention relates to devices for transmitting torque from a driving to a driven member and more particularly relates to a device which automatically varies the torque transmitted from the driver to the driven element.

An object of my invention is to provide means for varying the torque passing from a driving member to a driven member. My invention possesses other advantageons features, some of which with the foregoing will be set forth at length in the following description where I shall outline in full that form of the torque transmitter of my invention, which I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. In said drawings I have shown one form of torque transmitter embodying my invention, but it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to such form since the invention, as set forth in the claims, may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows one form of torque transmitter of my invention, the flywheels and block being in section on a median plane.

Fig. 2 is a cross section of the device of Fig. 1, the plane of section being indicated byline 2-2 of that figure, and the block being shown in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1, but with portions shown in plan.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the device of Fig. l with the near flywheel removed and portions broken away.

Fig. 5 shows a modified form of torque transmitter of my invention, most of the parts being in section on a median plane.

Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5. Y

Fig. 7 shows the device of Fig. 5 in side elevation, portions being in section on a median plane.

Fig. 8 is a cross section, the plane of section being shown by line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a cross section on the plane indicated by line 99 of Fig. 7

Fig. 10 discloses an additionally modified 9 form of my torque transmitter, most of the parts being shown in section on a median plane.

Fig. 11 is a cross section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a cross section on the line 1212 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a View similar to Fig. 10, but with the flywheel in an inclined position.

Fig. 14 shows in side elevation a further modified form of my invention.

Fig. 15 is a cross section the plane of which is indicated by line 15-15 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 16 is'a side elevation of the device of Fig. 14, with the flywheel rotated a quarter of a revolution from its position in that figure. I In its preferred embodiment the torque transmitter of my invention preferably comprises means for utilizing the difference in speed between a driving member and a driven member to impart .a torque to the driven member.

In the form of my device shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, there is preferably provided a frame 1 supporting two alined shafts 6 and 7 for free rotation. The shaft '6 has affixed to it a driving pin 8 journalled in a block 9. The block floats on the driving pin and carries a pair of alined trunnions 11 and 12 each of which is jonrnalled in one of-two yokes 13 and 14 connecting a pair of flywheels 16 and 17. The flywheels are parallel and are circular about centers equidistant from the trunnions 11 and 12 but coplanar therewith. The flywheels are journalled at their centers on alined spindles 19 and 20 fixed on a fork 22 secured to the shaft 7. I

In the operation of the device, the shaft 6 may be the driver and shaft 7 may be driven. As shaft 6 revolves it carries driving pin 8 around with'it. Since the pin is fast to the shaft, the axis a of the driver 6 is always intersected by the axis 7) of the pin 8. It is possible to have axes a and b in parallel planes and not actually intersecting but they bear the same relationship to each other in any case and are spoken of herein as intersecting. its revolution describes two coaxial cones The axis 1) during I whichthe driving force is transmitted. In

having their apices at the intersection of a and b which is also the intersection of c, the axis of rotary oscillation of the yokes l3 and 14, and of cl, the axis of rotary oscillation of the flywheels 16 and 17.

As pin 8 revolves it may do either of two things to the block 9 journalled on it and which carries the trunnions 11 and 12 rotatably engaging the yokes 13 and 14. If the pin 8 and block 9 do not rotate relative to each other, they remain in the position shown in Fig. 1 with axis a perpendicular to axis a. The yokes 13 and 14 together with the flywheels 16 and 17 then revolve about axis a but have no rotary 'oscillation about axis d. The fork 22 carrying spindles 19 and 20 then revolves the driven shaft 7 synchronously with the driver 6. This is usually the state of affairs when there is no load upon the driven shaft.

hen a relatively small load is imposed on the driven shaft 7, there is imposed a load on the spindles 19 and20 tending to resist revolution of the flywheels 16 and 17 about axis a. This resistance is transmitted through the yokes 13 and 14 to the trunnions 11 and 12 and causes a rotation or displacement of the block 9 for a few degrees around axis'b of the pin. This has the effect of reducing the lever arm through Fig. 2 it is seen that the average lever arm has a maximum value of 6 when axis 0 is perpendicular to axis a, and, as shown in Fig. 4, has a minimum value of i when axis c is in its limiting inclination with respect to axis a. For relatively small loads, the inclination of a with respect to a varies with the magnitude of the load and after adjusting itself upon theinitial imposition of the load, does not vary as long as the load remains constant. The shafts 6 and 7 then run synchronously although perhaps less rapidly than at their no load speed, and are angularly displaced polarly in proportion to the load. The relative olar shaft displacement varies from zero degrees as in Fig. 1, to ninety degrees, as in Fig. 4. This effeet is probably due to the centrifugal effect of unbalanced masses in the flywheels. If the flywheels are perfectly balanced, it does not occur and if they are largely unbalanced, it occurs to a marked degree.

A load on the driven shaft greater than that causing a maximum polar displacement of the synchronously revolving shafts initiates a different action. The shafts no longer revolve synchronously and there is a speed difference between the two. Thus, the pin 8 revolves within the block 9 on axis 11, causing the block to oscillate about axis 0. The trunnions 11 and 12 in their revolution about axis a follow a sinuous path and rotatably oscillate the yokes 13 and 14 and flywheels 16 and 17 about the d axis and,

usually at the same time revolve the fork 22 aboutthe (1 axis but with the shaft 7, as has been said, turning at a different rate than shaft 6.

It will be noticed that part of the motion of*block 9 is a combined oscillation rotary about axis 0 and axis d. When the parts are thereto, a slight relative rotation between shafts 6 and 7 causes a relatively large relative rotary oscillation between the block and the yokes about axis 0 and only a small relative rotary oscillation between the block and the flywheels 16 and 17 about the (Z axis. This may perhaps be better visualized by saying that in the position of the parts 1n Fig. 3, axis 6 is rotating instantaneously about axis 03 as a center and not at all about axis 0. This is approximately true of other positions in the vicinity of the one shown. Likewise, in the position of the parts shown in Fig. 4, axis 6 is instantaneously rotating about axis 0 and not about the d axis at all. This also is approximately true in neighbor- 111 positions.

is shaft 6 turns with respect to shaft 7 and the parts move from their Fig. 4 positions to their Fig. 3 positions, there is in the first instance no motion of the flywheels 16 and 17 about the 0? axis but this is' followed by a gradual acceleration of them until theyattain their maximum speed when axis 6 is revolving solely around the d axis,

as shown in Fig. 3. They then accelerate As the b axis leaves its Fig. 4 position and approaches its Fig. 3 position it has an increasing effect since it is coming closer to revolving about the (Z axis, as has been pointed out. Since the b axis is revolving about the a axis and intersects the flywheels on opposite sides of the d axis, the acceleration imparted to the flywheels produces a reacting couple on the spindles 19 and 20 tending to revolve shaft 7 in the direction of shaft 6. The deceleration of the flywheels after the b axis has passed its Fig. 3-position may also produce a reacting couple tending to drive the shaft 7 in the direction of shaft 6.

l/Vhen the shaft 6 has turned thru a half revolution, the b axis again is revolving substantially about the axis 03 but intersects the flywheels at points diametrically opposite those first described. The-flywheels are then accelerated in a direction opposite to the previously described acceleration.

Since the flywheel intersections ofthe b axis and the direction of rotation of the flywheels about the d axis are both opposite in sense to their first directions, there is produced in this instance also, during the acceleration of the flywheels, a couple tending to rotate the driven shaft in the direction of the driving shaft. The flywheel decelera tion may have a similar eflect.

It thus occurs that for each revolution of the driving shaft with respect to the driven shaft there are a number of impulses or couples tending to twist the driven shaft.

While the number of impulses per relative revolution of the driving and driven shafts generally does not vary in a given design of torque transmitter, their magnitude increases with increased relative shaft speeds. This is due to the increasing force necessary to accelerate the relatively heavy flywheels in decreasing periods of time. While the shaft 6 has been spoken of as the driving shaft,

it can as well be the driven shaft, the drive coming from shaft 7. All of the torque transmitters described herein likewise can be driven from either shaft.

The torque transmitter shown in Figs, 1 to 4, inclusive, is practically unaffected by centrifugal force due to rotation about the (1 axis. Since the driving and driven shafts are often revolved at comparatively high speeds regardless of their relative rotation, I have shown in Figs. 5 to 9, inclusive, a form of torque transmitter whose characteristics are somewhat modified by centrifugal force.

In the main, this form of the device is similar to the one just described. In a relatively stationary frame 25 are mounted the driving shaft 26-and the driven shaft 27 both rotating about an axis a. Aflixed to the driving shaft is a driving pin 28 having rotary movement in a block 29 about an axis 6. At right angles to the axis 6, the block carries diametrically opposed trunnions 31 and 32 about which,around an axis 0, rotatably oscillates a flywheel 33. This flywheel is circular in a plane which is normal to the axis a: when shafts 26 and 27 are revolving synchronously, and is connected by spindles 34 and 35, on an axis (Z, to a fork 36 secured to shaft 27 The operation of this ,form of device is identical with the onev previously described with the exception that when the shafts are 65 rotating synchronously, the plane of rotadriven shaft.

present type, however, is provided with a rim 37 journaled on the periphery of the flywheel 38 and secured thereto for limited relative rotation by springs 39 and 40. On the side of the mm are diametrically opposite lugs 41 and 42 which, when the flywheel 38 and attached rim 37 are in the inclined position of Fig. 13, are adapted to strike a projection 43 secured to the driven shaft 44.

When the driving and driven shafts are I operating asynchronously, the flywheel inclines, as shown in Fig. 13. Due to the rapid rotation of the flywheel and the accompanying rapid'rotation of the rim 37, there is a considerable impact when one of the lugs 41 or 42 strikes the projection 43. An impulse is thereby transmitted to the The springs 39 and 40 permit the flywheel to continue its rotation despite the sudden checking of the rim but the flywheel in its further rotation gradually assumes a position in which its plane of rotation is normal to'the axis of rotation of the shaft 44. The rim 37 also assumes this position, thus disengaging the lug 41 or 42 from the projection 43. The springs 39 and 40 then pull the rim back to its original polar relationship with the flywheel preparatory to another blow of the lugs on the projection 43. In this form of the device there are in addition to the impulses normally aiforded the driven shaft,-

shaft 45 enlarged into a ring 46 carrying a a journal 47 bearing on the driven shaft 48. The driving and driven shafts are thus held coaxially but are free to rotate relatively about axisa. At a point on the inner periphery of ring 46 is a bearing 49 permitting a crescent 51 to rotate about an axis 6. At its cusps the crescent carries trunnions 52 and 53 alined on an axis a.

The weight of the crescent and its acces s indles 57 and 58 permitting relative rota-- series is'counterbalanced' by a 54 preferably formed integrally with the ring which further can be provided with hemispherical housings, not shown, to enclose the mechanism.

Rotatably mounted on the trunnions 52 and 53 is the flywheel 56 in the present case having the form of a sphere. At diametrically opposed points on the sphere and spaced equidistant between the trunnions are t10n of the flywheel about an axis (1. The

spindles are securgd to a fork 59 fastened on the end of the driven shaft 48.

This form of my torque transmitter, like the others shown herein, transmits torque from one shaft to another running at the.

same speed or at a different speed.

I claim: q

1. A torque transmitter comprising a driving shaft, a driving pin afiixed on and inclined to said shaft, a body rotatably mounted on said driving pin, a flywheel directly pivoted to said body, and a driven shaft pivoted to'said flywheel.

2. A torque transmitter comprising a driving shaft, a driving pin afiixed on and inclined to said shaft, a body constrained to rotary movement on said driving pin, a mass pivoted on and constrained to rotary movement with respect to said body, said mass being otherwise unconnected to said body, and a driven shaft directly pivoted to said mass. 7

3. A torque transmitter comprising a rotatable driving member having a cylindrical portion inclined with respect to the rotational axis of said member, a body rotatably mounted on said portion, an inertia member directly pivoted to said body, and a rotatable driven member pivoted to said inertia member;

4. A torque transmitter comprising a driving member having two cylindrical portions the axes of which are inclined to each other, a mounting confining said member to rotation about oneof said axes, a body mounted on a cylindrical portion for rotation about the other of said axes, an inertia member pivoted on said body, and a driven member pivoted to said inertia member.

5. A torque transmitter comprising a driving member, a driven member, said members being in alinement for rotation about a common axis, a body mounted on said driving member for rotation about an axis inclined tothe axis of rotation of said driving member, and an inertia member directly pivoted to said body and to saiddriven member.

In; testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my *hand.

LEOPOLD M. KARNASCH. f 

